MIKODU - Crop rotations for optimised use of soil resources (joint project) (2018-2023)

MIKODU - Crop rotations for optimized use of soil resources: mixed cultivation of allorhizal and homorhizal species for complementary rooting of topsoil and subsoil (joint project)

The primary objective of the project is to reduce yield gaps in organic arable farming by optimizing the mobilization of water and nutrients from the solid phase of the soil. The basis for this is the promotion of extensive root systems through a soil structure favorable to soil microbiology and root growth.

Specific intercrops and preceding crops are grown that.

• (i) propagate fine pores at shallow soil depths with homorhizal root systems, or
• (ii) create access routes into the subsoil with taproots, or
• (iii) integrate the effects of both root systems in mixed cropping.

This optimization of subsoil structure increases microbial activity as well as the extent of postcrop roots in the subsoil. This allows subsequent crops to better tap into the water and nutrient reserves of the subsoil. In addition to soil structure effects, the different decomposition rates of the roots of the mixture partners are taken into account, with the aim of achieving the most uniform nutrient delivery possible for the subsequent crops. The project results will then be made usable in practice to optimize crop rotations with regard to the use of topsoil and subsoil resources.